Historic Washington State Park to present 39th Annual Christmas and Candlelight
Local decorators and musical groups share their talents
WASHINGTON – Historic Washington State Park will host its 39th Annual Christmas and Candlelight event this Friday, Dec. 12, and Saturday, Dec. 13. Tour venues will open at 3 p.m. Luminary lighting and music programs will begin at 5 p.m.
Homes and buildings within the historic town will be decorated with period decorations, and thousands of luminaries will light the streets. Park staff and volunteers will be dressed in period attire throughout the park, sporting fashions from the 1830s through the 1880s. Musical programs will be featured on both nights; see the schedule below. A horse-drawn surrey will be available for rides. Williams’ Tavern Restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a buffet beginning at 4 p.m. A Holiday Gift Bazaar will be available in the WPA Gym where you can purchase locally hand-made gifts beginning at 3 p.m.
Admission for the event is $20 per vehicle (CASH ONLY). If the vehicle is carrying more than 10 people, admission is $10 per person For more information about the event, contact the park at 870-983-2684.
We want to acknowledge and thank the different decorators that help make all the homes and structures look beautiful this time of year. We hope you come out and enjoy the hard work they put into this event. The event would not happen if it were not for the many volunteers that take part.
1836 Courthouse – Pat Cleburne UDC Chapter of Hope, Arkansas
1874 Courthouse – Shover Springs Extension Homemakers Club of Shover Springs, Arkansas
Block House – Family of Josh and Jaime Williams of Washington, Arkansas
Crouch House – Nevada County Extension Homemakers Fairhills Club of Prescott, Arkansas
Morrison Tavern Inn and Kitchen – Family of Alan and Nugget Moses of Washington, Arkansas
Purdom House – Hope Civitan Club of Hope, Arkansas
Royston Log House – The Eagle’s Nest Specialty Welding and Machining of Buckner, Arkansas
Royston Town House – AFGC Columbia County Friends and Flowers Garden Club
Sanders House and Kitchen – John Cain-Benjamin Culp DAR Chapter of Hope, Arkansas
Washington Jail Bed and Breakfast– Nevada County Extension Homemakers Fairhills Club of Prescott, Arkansas
Williams Tavern (Exterior) – Hempstead County Master Gardeners of Hope, Arkansas
Williams Tavern (Interior) – AFGC Columbia County Friends and Flowers Garden Club
Friday, December 12, 2025, Music Schedule
Royston House
5:00 p.m. —8:00 p.m. Brenda Westerbuhr, violinist – Washington, Ark.
Washington Methodist Church
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.* Live Nativity Scene (Front Yard)
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Hope Methodist Primary School Choir – Hope, Ark.
5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Nashville Primary Choir – Nashville, Ark.
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Nashville Global Methodist Church Choir – Nashville, Ark.
7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Hempstead County Melody Boys – Hope, Ark.
*Nativity program will be performed in-between performances at the Methodist Church
Washington Presbyterian Church
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Jenny Hainen Trio –Kirby, Ark.
5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Garrett Memorial Christian School Singers – Hope, Ark.
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Faith Baptist Church Choir – Texarkana, Ark.
7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Ouachita Baptist University “Purple Groove” – Arkadelphia, Ark.
Williams Tavern Restaurant
5:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Jerome Underwood and Friends – Hope, Ark.
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Rachel Parson & Friends, guitarist – Columbus, Ark.
1874 Courthouse
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Bobby Loe, vocalist – Prescott, Ark.
5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Jennifer Taylor, guitarist – Emmet, Ark.
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Richardson Family – Texarkana, Tex.
7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. “Twas the Night Before Christmas” reading & St. Nicholas
Outside Caroling
Trail Life USA and American Heritage Girl Troops TX-2289 – Hooks, Tex.
Jenny Hainen Trio – Kirby, Ark.
Saturday, December 14, 2025, Music Schedule
Royston House
5:00 p.m. —8:00 p.m. Brenda Westerbuhr, violinist – Washington, Ark.
Washington Methodist Church
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. * Live Nativity Scene (Front Yard)
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Washington Global Methodist Church Youth – Washington, Ark.
5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Hope Methodist Church Choir – Hope, Ark.
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Hardy Memorial Global Methodist Church Choir – Texarkana, Tex.
7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Hempstead County Melody Boys – Hope, Ark.
*Nativity program will be performed in-between performances at the Methodist Church
Washington Presbyterian Church
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Jonathan Bradford, pianist – Hope, Ark.
5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Rachel Parson & Friends, guitarist – Hope, Ark.
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Jimmy Ivers & Claire Tatom, vocalists & Beth Mahoney, pianist – Hope, Ark.
7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The Harmenizers – Hope, Ark.
Williams Tavern Restaurant
5:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Jerome Underwood and Friends – Hope, Ark.
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Reagan Harvill, guitarist – El Dorado, Ark.
1874 Courthouse
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Kaitlyn Higginbothom, vocalist – Texarkana, Tex.
5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. New Boston High School Theatre Troupe – New Boston, Tex.
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Four States Fusion Chorus – Texarkana, Ark.
7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. “Twas the Night Before Christmas” reading & St. Nicholas
Outside Caroling
Four States Fusion Chorus – Texarkana, Ark.
Howard County Children and Adult Center – Nashville, Ark.
